Machine for cleaning crude rubber.



W. E. SMITH. MACHINE FOR CLEANING CRUDE RUBBER.

APPLICATION I'ILED NOV. 21, 1912.

Patented Mar. 3. 19M

nurrnnsfrnrns Parana. OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. SMITH,

F BUFFALO, NEW YORK,

MACHINE FOR'CLEANING CRUDE RUBBER.

."..of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Crude Rubber, of which the followii'ig is a specification.

This invention has for its object to enable sand andother foreign matter accompanying crude rubber tobe expeditiously and economically separated. therefrom before the rubber is subjected to the usual treatment by crushing rolls.

Heretofore crude rubber containing sand, dirt, etcl, has been passed between crushing rolls witlmut preliminary treatment to remove the foreign matter, which is to a considerable extent more firmly embedded in the rubber by the action of the rolls.

My invention consists in the improved means for removing this foreign matter, hereinafter described and claimed.

Ofthe accompanying drawings: Figures 1 and 2 represent a side view of a machine embodying my invention, the jaws hereinacting portion of the jaw,be*ing spaced from the support 12 sot-hat therubber may pass between the jaw? and support;

after mentioned being shown in difierent relative positions; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. & represents a section on line 1- 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 represents .a piece of crude rubber before treatment, and Fig. 6 represents the same piece as stretched by the machine.

The same reference characters represent the same or similar parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 12 and 13- represent two opposed supports, which are relatively niovable to vary the distance between them, said supports forming opposite sides of a vertical passage through which crude rubber, inserted in a hopper or guide 1 1, is adapted to descend by. gravitation. The support 12 is preferably fixed, the support 13 being pivoted at 15 and adapted to swing toward and from the support 12.

To, the support 12 are attached a series of jaws 16, each composed of a stout, p actically U-shapedmetal rod or bar, the'en s of which are rigidly attached to the support, the intermediate portiongconstituting the 7 Each aw maybe provided with teeth 17 at its inner si e. a

To thesuspport 13 are attached aseries of l Specification of Lette Application filed November 21, 1912.

'5 Patent Patented M11123, 1914.

Serial No. 732,685.

jaws 18 formed and attached like the jaws 1G, and. alternating with the latter, the actportions of the jaws 18 being spaced from the support 13 and preferably pro- 0 vided with teeth 19.

/Vhen the supports are at their minimum distance apart, shown by Fig. 1, the jaws 16 and 18 are at opposite sides of the path in which the rubber moves downwardly be-. 55 tween the supports. tween the supports is increased, as shown by Fig. 2, the jaws 16 and 18 are caused to press in posed rubber and indent and stretch it, so that a lump 20 (Fig. 5) of rubber inserted in the hopper 14: is caused to assume apoximately the form shown by Fig. 6, the bber being stretched into a thin sinuous 'sheet, which becomes thinner it passes 5 downwardly.

Means are provided for discharging a jet or jets of water or other liquid between the supports 12 and 15:3 on the stretched sur 'aces of the rubber and 30 removing therefrom sand and other foreign matter,which is loosened and exposed by the stretching operation. 21 may be provided for this purpose.

The support 13 may be oscillated to vary as. the distance between the supports, by any suitable mechanism,

crank shaft 22, the crank 23 of which is connected by a link 24 with the support 13.

The lower portions of the supports 12 When the distance be opposite directions on the interthe water impinging One or more nozzles which may include a and 13 may be provided respectively with corrugated jaws 25, 26, which are opened and closed by the described movements of" the support 13 and act to crush the rubber after it has passed below the stretching jaws. The rigid connection of the" stretching jaws at their opposite ends to the supports is important, the jaws being enabled thereby to withstand the strain exerted on them by the tensile strength of the rubber.

I claim: 1. A machine for cleaning crude rubber,

comprising two series of alternating jaws, two opposed supports therefor, the' jaws being rigidly attached at supports andspaced therefrom, one of. the supports being pivoted to oscillate toward and from the other, and means for oscillating the pivoted support to cause the jaws to engage and stretch elastic matter interposed between them.

2. A machine for cleaning crude rubber,

oth ends to the Q lpeeaez eomprisingtWO series of alternating jaws, two opposed supports therefor, the jaws being rigidly attached at bothendsto the supports and spaced therefromyand means for varying the distance between the supports to cause the jaws to engage and stretch elastic matter interposed between them, the supports being providecl'at their lower por- WILLIAM B. SMITH. Witnesses C. F. BROWN, P. W. PEzzE'rTI.

M copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C," 

